Mirror having an illuminated film for signaling and general illumination

Abstract

An external mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle has a shell having an aperture. A mirror is carried by the shell, substantially occluding the aperture. The mirror assembly has a lighting element having an electroluminescent film electrically connected to a triggering device for energizing the film and illuminating the mirror assembly. The triggering device includes first and second switches for generating a series of high and low frequency pulses and a control device connected to each of the switch for triggering each of the switches to illuminate the lighting element in either a flashing or continuous pattern.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An external mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: 
       a shell having an aperture;  
       a mirror carried by said shell, substantially occluding said aperture; and  
       a first lighting element comprising an electoluminescent film electrically connected to a triggering device for energizing said electro luminescent film, said triggering device comprising a first switch device for generating a series of high frequency pulses, a second switch device for generating a series of low frequency pulses, a power source connected in series to said first and second switches for supplying power to each of said first and second switches, and a control device connected to each of said first and second switches for selectively and independently triggering each of said first and second switches to illuminate said first lighting element in one of a flashing pattern or continuous illumination.  
     
     
       2. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  1  wherein said triggering device further includes a third switch connected in series to said first and second switch for generating a series of low frequency pulses when powered by said power source and selectively controlled by said control device to illuminate said first lighting element in one of a flashing pattern or continuous illumination. 
     
     
       3. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  2  wherein said triggering device further includes a high frequency generator electrically connected between said control device and said first switch device for triggering said first switch at a predetermined high frequency in response to activation of said control device. 
     
     
       4. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  3  wherein said triggering device further includes a first low frequency generator electrically connected between said control device and said second switch for triggering said second switch at a predetermined low frequency in response to activation of said control device. 
     
     
       5. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  4  wherein said triggering device further includes a second low frequency generator electrically connected between said control device and said third switch for triggering said third switch at a predetermined low frequency in response to activation of said control device. 
     
     
       6. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  5  wherein said triggering device further includes a converter device for converting direct current from said power source to voltage for supplying said predetermined frequency to each of said switches for illuminating said first lighting element. 
     
     
       7. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  6  wherein at least a portion of said mirror is a dichroic mirror and said electroluminescent film is mounted within said shell adjacent said mirror to illuminate through said dichroic mirror. 
     
     
       8. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  7  wherein said electroluminescent film comprises an electroluminescent layer for illuminating said mirror assembly in a predetermined directional signaling pattern. 
     
     
       9. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  8  wherein said mirror assembly further comprises a second lighting element mounted on an exterior surface of said shell and operatively connected to said triggering device. 
     
     
       10. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  9  wherein said triggering device energizes and illuminates said first lighting element and said second lighting element at said predetermined signaling frequencies. 
     
     
       11. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  10  wherein said first switch operates at a frequency range of between 500 Hz and 50 KHz. 
     
     
       12. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  11  wherein said second switch operates at a frequency range of between 10 Hz and 50 Hz. 
     
     
       13. A mirror assembly as set forth in claim  12  wherein said third switch operates at a frequency range of between 0 Hz and 10 Hz.